The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-01-13
TOBY,s RIDE.

Tub RIDE
..Yank's 4 comm. pap and Toby
waved long, lank arm toward the
tall, blue hills, round which wound the
yellow mountain road. where the shall
low stream, known as ..Pvttses Fork. :
crossed and recrossed like the unwind
ing Of giant snake.
Mr.. Potts shook his head portentons-
". stroking his matted gray beard with
fingers yellowed and hardened by years
Of unremitting toll.
wal. don reckin thars anything
fur EN- to take; mos everything
done ben ct up by the boys tibet stop
ped hyar last Potts paused ab-
ruptly, troubled by sudden thought
Toby sidled up to the old man. mntter-
Ing almost inaudibly:
'.Petc's boss, pap! yer don think
they a take Rod'rick, do YEP
They sharnt! not If ] hev ter lose
every drap o my blood. they sharn't
take tibet hoss!' cried the old man We
hemently.
.Mcbbe they cyarn't find him, pap
-Roxy's tux him ter the nlountin
getherin' sumac, an ef she don't come
out too soon they'll never know nothin'
bout it," said Toby. rsassuringly.
The soldiers were now in full sight,
their blue coats darkening the yellow
road and Frightening the ssmbre pines.
and the thud Of their trayel-worn feet
beat like distant drum.
As clouds Of dust rise up ut their APP
preaching footsteps a swaying girlish
form is coming down the mountain.
singing an old sweet hymn Of freedom
in her arm are branches Of sumac turn.
ing brown, and yellow, and scarlet in
the mellow autumn sun; at her side a
slender dark bay horse. sleek and glossy
rs the pride of an Arabs heart, follows
closely, unresisting the bride swung
carelessly over her wrist. Toby's heart
jumps in his throat and all the color
fades from his face, leaving it quite
white, save the tan-colored freckles that
cover his thin cheeks.
The father and son wave their hands
in unintelligible signs-Roxy looks and
listens. and. suddenly understanding,
springs back into the neighboring
thicket. Too late. one Of the blue coats
espies her and leaps nimbly after her.
Roxy is crouching close in the
shadow Of bending pine-tree and
Roderick's eyes shine ike stars behind
his green prison. "A fine horse and q
fine girl" shouts the soldier, graspine
Roxy's plump arm.
''Let me go" she Screams; ''let me
60. Isay!"
The others. laughing and shouting,
scramble up the rocky bank. eager fol
an adventure. They have pulled thu
reluctant girl from her hiding place,
and one boldly seizes Roderick's
bride. The brave horse plants his del.
icatc hoofs into the mans chest and
sends him rolling down the hill. Others
rush ut him. and, painting with rage
and fright he tries in vain to dash past
them, but they are too many for HIM
aud while some, more cOwardly thar
the rest, look from behind the trees ii
this strange battle, others surround him
on all sides. and he stands trembling
with excitement and pain as they faster
the bit firmly on his sensitive mouth.
..Soldiers, you darn't take the hoss!'
cries Abraham Potts, culver Of en-
treaty in his voice.
THAT war my Pete's hoss-he RAISED
him from colt and never lowed no.
body to tech him but hisself!O, no, sol
diers. take any thing I've got, but dom
tech that hoss!'
IF he's Peters horse let him tax,
care Of him now laughed the soldier
carelessly. as he tightens his grip or
the bride.
Roxy had thrown one arm round til,
fathers bent form, and stood shclterinf
him, as it were, from the jeers Of thu
Federals. Now Abe Potts bent forward
drawing himself away from his daugh
ter's clinging grasp.
"Petc's done dead, men, nlutteret
the old man in hoarse. choked voice
.he's layin' now back thar benin til,
house. with the weepin' willer he plant
cd a-shadin' his grave. Rod'riok tina
brung i'm home ter die! he gaspct
brokenly. "Soldiers, he wuz all | he'd
Ny Pete-so brave, and SIGH 4 fine fig
ger; when he rid away with the Var
ginny Grays my heart swelled till
wux nigh Dustin: but gin him to NJ,
country. an thet's all tibet is left o hin
tibet there hoss." Old Potts sighed
then went onw it'll an effort.
..One evenin' we hyard bosses hoofs
an we knowed it war Rod'rick-h
cum in Their night-an' when ! he'll on
the light to make shore twas him
never seed nothin' at fust but Rod'ric
his eyes a-shinin' like Goals of fire
Purity soon seed somethin' tied acros
his back-it wor my Pete! o, soldiers
you sent my boy back home to di
with u bullet through his breast!' an
the old man threw out his arms wildl
then turned and hid his face on Roxy
shoulder.
| Not man but felt that simple stor
touch his heart, and Toby's big brow
eyes were wet with unshed tears.
The boy was clinging close to hi
father now.
"Say, pap, amt yer don got mee?:
he whispered. wistfully,
mo, | don't want yer, cried tn
. father, bitterly. They've tux m
Pete, an what air you in his place?
So the child shrank, trembling, an
repulsed. down by the bundle of with
ering sunlac. The soldiers were goin,
away quietly, leaving the old man j
peace. when afar up the monatain roa
they discerned men in gray hastenin
in their direction.
..BOys.n cried one as he spranp a